2009 Suzuki Equator

Suzuki enters the mid-size-pickup segment with the all-new Equator.

There's a bejeweled look to the Equator compact pickup truck that marks Suzuki's entry into the segment in North America.

This is the first illustration the Japanese automaker has released of the new Equator, which makes its world debut at the Chicago auto show. Suzuki promises to show "several lightly modified versions of its new truck," which could suggest more cab configurations than the one in this teaser picture.

The Suzuki "S" is prominently displayed on a grille that adopts some cues from other Suzuki vehicles, but there's no whole-scale familiarity. The bumper shares styling with the Suzuki X-Head concept. The truck also relies on chrome accents and door handles and a running board to add a bit more bling.

The Equator is essentially a Nissan Frontier, and Nissan will build the Suzuki-badged version at its plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, starting this year. We must wait for the Chicago show to learn to what extent the two share components, including powertrains, as well as common sheetmetal.

The two automakers reached an agreement in 2006 for Nissan to build a mid-size pickup for Suzuki to sell in North America as well as a version of the Nissan Serena mini-minivan for sale in Japan. In return, Suzuki was to produce a mini-vehicle for Nissan in Japan and a new A-segment car for Europe.

This move mirrors one of Mitsubishi, which contracted Chrysler to build the Raider pickup as a rebadged Dodge Dakota. The Raider has not been a sales success and will be dropped from the Mitsubishi lineup when the assembly contract between the two automakers expires.

Suzuki has modest sales goals in the 20,000 range for the Equator, saying it largely is a vehicle for loyal customers to haul their Suzuki-brand power-sports toys without having to turn to the competition.

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*AccuPayment estimates payments under various scenarios for budgeting and informational purposes only. AccuPayment does not state credit or lease terms that are available from a creditor or lessor, and AccuPayment is not an offer or promotion of a credit or lease transaction.